Coverage in the Times - impact of charges on those with Asthma

There was a great piece in the Times today highlighting the impact of prescription charges on people with asthma.  This featured a survey of 1,000 people, conducted by Asthma UK, which found that more than half had to prioritise living expenses such as food, rent or fuel bills over medication.  More than half said that they had skipped doses because of the cost, and many thought that their health had suffered as a result.

Emily Humphreys, Head of Policy at Asthma UK is quoted saying "It's very worrying.  That's what people with asthma are saying is one of the key reasons for not taking their medication, and when a third of deaths are associated with not taking medicine, that needs to be taken seriously.  It's the single thing that people contact us about the most.  People in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland don't pay so there's the immediate unfairness in the system.  These medicines are life-saving.  People need them to stay on top of their symptoms."

Speaking on behalf of the Prescription Charges Coalition, Philip Reynolds added "There's nothing that makes sense about this system.  The founding principle of the NHS is that it's a service based on need, not the ability to pay, and free at the point of use."